Spanish Language Basics
To make the most out of your Dominican experience, here are a few language tips that will help you woo the locals.
Everyday phrases
Spanish translation
Pronunciation
Yes|Si|See**
No|No|Noh**
Please|Por favor|Pour favor**
Thank you|Gracias|Grah-see-ass**
Hello|Hola|O-la**
Goodbye|Adiós|Ah-dee-os**
Good morning|Buenos días|bwen-os dee-as**
Good afternoon|Buenas tardes|bwen-as tardes**
Good evening/night|Buenas noches|bwen-as noch-es**
Excuse me|Perdóname|Per-don-ah-may**
You´re welcome|Es un placer|S oon plas-er**
How are you?|¿Cómo estás?|Coh-moh estas?**
Fine, thank you|Bien, gracias|Bee-en, grah-see-as**
Do you speak english?|¿Habla inglés?|Ah-blah ing-gles**
I dont understand|No entiendo|No en-tee-yen-doh**
Where is...?|¿Dónde está...?|Don-day es-tah?**
I'd like|Quisiera|Kiss-ee-eh-rah**
When does open/close?|¿Cuando abre/cierra?|Quando ah-bray/see-ehr-ra**
What time is it?|¿Qué hora es?|K orah S?**
English phrases at a Hotel
Spanish translation
Pronunciation
Hotel|Hotel|O-tel**
Do you have a room?|¿tiene una habitaicón libre?|Tee-yene oona Ah-bee-ta-theeon leeb-ray?**
I have a reservation|Tengo una habitación reservada|Tengo oona Ah-bee-ta-theeon reservada**
how much per night?|¿Cuanto es el precio por noche?|Quan-toe S L press-E-O por noche?**
What time is breakfast?|¿A que hora es el desayuno?|Ah K orah S L des-I-uno?**
What floor?|¿Qué piso?|K peace-O?**
A single room|un cuarto para una persona|Oon quarto para oon-ah persona**
A double room|un cuarto doble|Oon quarto dobley**
A twin room|un cuarto con dos camas|Oon quarto con dos camas**
With bathroom|con baño|Con ban-yo**
One night|una noche|Oona noch-ey**
Key|llave|Jah-vey**
Sea view|Vista al mar|Vista al mar**
Gents/Ladies|Caballeros/Damas|Cabajeros/dam-as**
English phrases at a Bank
Spanish translation
Pronunciation
Bank|banco|Banco**
Coins|monedas|Monedas**
Banknotes|billetes|Bee-yet-es**
Receipt|recibo|Reh-see-bo**
The change|el cambio|L cam-B-O**
Can you change?|¿Puedes cambiar?|Pwedes cam-B-R?**
Pounds/Euros/Dollars|libras/euros/dolares|Leeb-bras/A-uros/dolaris**
Emergency
Spanish translation
Pronunciation
Do you take...?|¿aceptan?|As-sept-an?**
Credit card|tarjeta de crédito|Tar-heta day credito**
travellers cheque|cheques de viaje|Check-es day vee-a-hay**
Cash|efectivo|Eh-fec-teevo**
How much?|¿cuánto cuesta?|Quanto questa?**
English phrases for Meals
Spanish translation
Pronunciation
Breakfast|desayuno|Des-I-uno**
Lunch|almuerzo|Al-mwer-so**
Dinner|cena|Seh-na**
Table|una mesa|Oon-ah mesa**
I have nothing to declare|No tengo nada que declarar**
Starter|entrada|Entrada**
Main course|plato principal|Plato principal**
Dessert|postre|Poh-stray**
Bill|la cuenta|La quenta**
Beer|cerveza|Ser-ves-ah**
Menu|Menú|Men-oo**
Red wine|vino tinto|Vino tin-toe**
White wine|vino blanco|Vino blank-oh**
Water|agua|Ah-gua**
Tea|te|Tay**
Coffee(black)|café negro|Kafay neh-gro**
Coffee with milk|café con leche|Kafay con lechay**
English phrases for Transport
Spanish translation
Pronunciation
Airport|aeropuerto|Ah-airo-pwerto**
Bus|bus|boos|**
Bus station|estación de buses|Es-tas-ee-on day booses**
Bus stop|parada de autobús|Pah-rah-dah day boos**
Return|ida y vuelta|ee-dah ee voo-elta**
Which way to...?|¿cómo se llega a…?|Como say jay-ga ah…?**
How far|¿a qué distancia?|Ah K dis-tan-see-ah**
Car|carro|carro**
Petrol/Gas|Gasolina|Gaso-leena**
Petrol/Gas station|gasolilnera|Gaso-leen-ey-ra**
Can you recommend me a good restaurant?|¿Me puede recomendar un buen restaurante?**
"Take me here please…. (showing a map or business card)"|Lleveme aqui por favor|Jeh-vay-may ah-key pour favor**
